Archbishop
Angaelos of London delivers address at International Religious Freedom
Conference in Washington DC

7 December 2017

A three-day conference was
held from 4-6 December 2017 in Washington, DC, on the “Persecution of
Christians in the Holy Lands and the Middle East: Consequences and Solutions.”
The 3rd Archon International Conference on Religious Freedom, sponsored by the
Order of Saint Andrew the Apostle, Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, was
attended by government officials, human rights activists, academics, and
religious leaders, among whom was Archbishop Angaelos of London. Speakers
included, among others, an array of Church leaders and representatives,
senators, congressmen, advocates, professors, and media personnel. Sessions
included the “History of the Christian Church” focusing on the disappearance of
Christians from the birthplace of Christianity, “Persecution of Christians and
Possible Solutions,” “Freedoms of Religion and the Press,” and “Sacred Sites
and Property Rights.”

In his address, Archbishop Angaelos of London spoke about the need to
recognise basic human rights that should be afforded to all, saying:

“Life is not a privilege, it
is a right. Dignity is not a privilege, it is a right. Existence and tolerance
are not an option. We need to raise our expectations so we can offer the
persecuted so much more.” ​

Speaking about the extent of
religious freedom violations worldwide, the Archbishop went on to stress the
need for collaboration:

“This is an international
epidemic and exceeds the ability of any single person, organisation, faith, and
even nation state to fix. This needs a collaborative response that brings
together policy makers, religious leaders, and civic society, bringing all of
our abilities together, all that God gives us, to represent them.”

Addressing members of the
Christian Faith directly, he continued:

“We hear the stories of the saints in our Churches,
in our Liturgies every day, but persecution is still happening. It happened on
our screens. We saw it before us.”

“Sisters and brothers, this should no longer happen
on our watch, because as they are cut, we bleed. As members of the same Body,
we need to stop using the language of the ‘Church of the East’ and ‘Church of
the West’. There is only one Body for us. It rejoices as one, it mourns as one,
it also struggles as one.”

Highlighting the need to
safeguard God-given rights and freedoms he said:

“Under article 18 of the
Universal Charter of Human Rights, we are told that everyone shall have a right
to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion. Inalienable rights; rights
that no one should take away. God gives us the right to accept or, indeed, to
reject Him, so who are we to impose Him on others based on our own ideology?
Who is anyone to tell me what to believe and what not to believe? Who is anyone
to take away the right that God, God the Omnipotent, has given me?”

“Whether the persecution is
against a Coptic Christian, an Orthodox Christian of any sort, a Catholic, an
Evangelical, or even a Rohingya, a Baha’i, or a Sufi, this is abhorrent in the
eyes of God. God gave us all His image and His likeness equally. He calls us to
be advocates for that image and that likeness and for that sanctity of life
equally. We cannot stand with any kind of credibility advocating for our own if
something happens to my neighbour and I question whether or not I am “my
brother’s keeper?” The answer in the Scriptures is ‘of course I am.’ We are not
only our brothers’ keepers; we are our brothers’ advocates, and we must never
let them suffer alone.”​

Lastly he spoke a word to
the perpetrators of persecution, reiterating messages of forgiveness spoken of
in past addresses and statements:

“Recently some of you may
have heard that I issued a statement after our own brothers and sisters in
Egypt were brutally shot. It was a message to the perpetrators saying, ‘You are
loved. Your actions are abhorrent and detestable, but you are loved by my God,
and by me, and by millions like me, because you have the same nature, image,
and likeness as me.’ We pray that God, Who speaks to their hearts, brings them
to a place where their eyes are opened and they see the sanctity of life, and
turn away from seeing other humans as mere commodities.”

Those who spoke on the same
panel as Archbishop Angaelos included, Archbishop Dionysius John Kawak,
Archbishop and Patriarchal Vicar, Syriac Orthodox Archdiocese of the Eastern
United States, Johny (cq) Messo, president of the World Council of Arameans (Syriacs),
Anna Koulouris, Communications Advisor, Patriarchate of Jerusalem, and the Very
Reverend Fr. Isaac Crow, Antiochian Orthodox Church.

Archbishop Angaelos presented gifts of Coptic Orthodox icons to His Eminence
Archbishop Demetrios of America, and other members of the conference.

Key statistic: While about 30 percent of the world’s population identifies as
Christian, the International Society for Human Rights notes that 80 percent of
all acts of religious discrimination are directed at Christians.

On 18 November 2017, His Grace Bishop Angaelos, who has served as
General Bishop of the Coptic Orthodox Church in the United Kingdom since 1999,
was enthroned as the first Bishop of the new Coptic Orthodox Diocese of London
during a historic service in the Coptic Cathedral of Saint George, Hertfordshire.The Enthronement service came a week
after HH Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of Saint
Mark, and the Holy Synod of the Coptic Orthodox Church, Proclaimed Bishop
Angaelos as the first Diocesan Bishop of London in a service in St Bishoy Monastery
Wadi El-Natrun, Egypt.

The vespers service included traditional Coptic prayers, mostly in
English, followed by the enthronement of His Grace at the hands of a delegation
of visiting Coptic Metropolitans and Bishops. The Instrument of Enthronement,
the document outlining the bishop’s appointment and responsibilities, was
formally signed by the members of the delegation.

During his address, Bishop Angaelos thanked everyone in attendance,
as well as His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, and the late Pope, His Holiness Pope Shenouda
III. He went on to say:

“This is not a day about me, but about this Diocese, it is a birth
of a new diocese, the putting together of a new family.

“Today we start a journey together,
because a Diocese is a combination of individuals and parishes who bring to
this new family their own strengths, while being able to also compensate for one
other’s weaknesses. As a diocese I would want us to follow closely in the
footsteps of our Lord and in the words of St Cyril of Jerusalem, who says: “Everywhere
the Saviour becomes all things to all. To the hungry bread; to the thirsty,
water, to the dead, Resurrection, to the sick a physician, to sinners:
Redemption.” I do hope that we can work towards trying to accommodate for all.”

“What sets the Church apart from other
organisations and institutions is that it is centred on Christ and that we can
go to Him in our times of greatest need. It is also the fellowship of the
Eucharist, the Body of Christ of which we are all members individually, but
Christ remains our Head.”

“Today is a start, and I pray that God continues
to support us to pray, work, and journey together. At this time I wish to
remember what our Lord instructed His disciples to do in John 13:14, saying
that they must begin their ministry by washing one another’s feet, and that it
was in that spirit that the ministry of the Gospel is carried out. So I pray
and I hope that this ministry is going to be about the washing of feet, mine of
yours, and yours of one another’s.”

Towards the end of his address, Bishop Angaelos, removed his cope
and proceeded to wash the feet of a number of children in the congregation,
signifying his intent to begin his new ministry as a servant with the desire to
follow in the footsteps of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Messages from Her Royal Highness The Countess of Wessex, The Right
Honourable Theresa May, Prime Minister, and The Most Revered Archbishop Justin
Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury, were read during the service. Addresses were given
by His Eminence Archbishop Elisey of Sourozh, Primate of the Russian Orthodox
Church in Great Britain and Ireland, His Eminence Archbishop Mor Athanasius
Toma Dawod, Council of the Oriental Orthodox Churches in the United Kingdom and
the Republic of Ireland, Archbishop Kevin McDonald Co-Founder & Co-Chair of
the Catholic-Oriental Orthodox Regional Forum in the United Kingdom, Billy
Kennedy, Leader, Pioneer Network, President of Churches Together in England, His
Grace Bishop Suriel, Dean of Saint Athanasius Theological College, Melbourne,
Australia, Coptic Orthodox Church, His Grace Bishop Roufail, General Secretary
of the Holy Synod of the Coptic Orthodox Church, His Eminence Metropolitan
Serapion of Los Angeles, Council of Bishops of North America, Coptic Orthodox
Church, His Eminence Metropolitan Pakhomious, Locum Tenens 2012, Coptic
Orthodox Church.

Joining members of the Coptic community at the service were, representatives
of the ecumenical and civic life of Britain, various inter-religious guests,
and representatives of advocacy organisations.

*Ends*

Photographs will be made available via www.Flickr.com/CopticMedia

Background:

The Coptic Orthodox Church in the United Kingdom, dates back to 10
August 1954 when it commenced its pastoral and liturgical ministry in London.
In February 1969, a historic Liturgy was celebrated in London by the then
Bishop Shenouda, the late Pope Shenouda III, who encouraged the faithful to
hold regular services, which subsequently led to the hiring of St Andrew’s
church in Holborn. Copts would gather from across the United Kingdom to pray
there until 1978 when, returning to London as Pope Shenouda III, His Holiness
consecrated St Mark church in Kensington as the first Coptic Orthodox parish in
Europe.

Since then, the Coptic Orthodox Church in the United Kingdom and
Republic of Ireland has become an active member of its respective local,
regional and national communities, serving in a variety of ways across the four
nations, equipping its faithful to be positively contributing and active
members in their local settings. At the core of its pastoral care is a focus on
Christian education at every level and an active youth ministry. The Coptic
Orthodox Church also serves on a wider level through engaging in a variety of
benevolent and advocacy related work.

The Coptic Orthodox Church in the United Kingdom and the Republic
of Ireland now has approximately 20,000 faithful across 32 parishes, with the
number of these parishes constantly increasing. These have thus far been served
by three dioceses: the diocese of Birmingham, the Midlands and its affiliated
regions, served by HG Bishop Missael, the Diocese of Scotland, Ireland and
North East England, served by HG Bishop Antony, and the Papal Diocese which, prior to His Grace's appointment as Bishop of London, covered London, the South of England and South Wales, in which HG Bishop Angaelos has
served as His Holiness the Pope’s delegate since 1999.

His Holiness Pope Tawadros II and the Holy Synod of the Coptic
Orthodox Church have now established the Coptic Orthodox Diocese of London.

HG
Bishop Angaelos proclaimed Bishop over new Coptic Orthodox Diocese of London
during historic service in Egypt

16 November 2017

On 11
November 2017 His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch
of the See of Saint Mark, and the Holy Synod of the Coptic Orthodox Church,
Proclaimed His Grace Bishop Angaelos as Bishop of the new Coptic Orthodox
Diocese of London during a service at St Bishoy Monastery in Wadi-El-Natroun,
Egypt.

With
the Coptic Orthodox Diocese of London, two new dioceses were established: HG
Bishop Karass was Proclaimed Bishop of Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland and
West Virginia, and HG Bishop Marc was Proclaimed as Bishop of Paris and the
North of France.

On
Sunday 12 November, four monks were consecrated bishops: two monks from Saint
Shenouda Monastery in Milan, Fr Giovanni and Fr Antonio, were consecrated as
bishops of Mid-Europe and Milan respectively; Fr Seraphim El-Souriani was
consecrated as Bishop of Ohio, Michigan, and Indiana; and father Pigol
Al-Muharraqi was consecrated as Bishop and Abbot of Al-Muharraq Monastery in
Assiut.

Bishop
Angaelos, formerly the General Bishop of the Coptic Orthodox Church in the United
Kingdom, will travel back to England accompanied by a delegation of
Metropolitans and Bishops who will formally enthrone him as the Coptic Orthodox
Bishop of London during a vespers service in the Coptic Cathedral of Saint
George at The Coptic Centre later in the month.

Announcement HG Bishop Angaelos to be enthroned as first Bishop of new
Coptic Orthodox Diocese of London

31 October 2017

HH Pope Tawadros II, Pope of
Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of Saint Mark, and the Holy Synod of the
Coptic Orthodox Church, have decided on the establishment of the new Coptic
Orthodox Diocese of London, and to entrust HG Bishop Angaelos as the first
Diocesan Bishop of London.

The Proclamation of this new
appointment will be made by His Holiness the Pope and the Holy Synod at a
service in Cairo on 11 November 2017.

Bishop Angaelos
will travel back to England, accompanied by a delegation of Metropolitans and Bishops
who will formally enthrone him during a vespers service in the Coptic Cathedral
of Saint George at The Coptic Centre later in the month.

*Ends*

Background:

The
Coptic Orthodox Church in the United Kingdom, dates back to 10 August 1954 when
it commenced its pastoral and liturgical ministry in London. In February 1969,
a historic Liturgy was celebrated in London by the then Bishop Shenouda, the
late Pope Shenouda III, who encouraged the faithful to hold regular services,
which subsequently led to the hiring of St Andrew’s church in Holborn. Copts
would gather from across the United Kingdom to pray there until 1978 when, returning
to London as Pope Shenouda III, His Holiness consecrated St Mark church in
Kensington as the first Coptic Orthodox parish in Europe.

Since
then, the Coptic Orthodox Church in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland
has become an active member of its respective local, regional and national
communities, serving in a variety of ways across the four nations, equipping
its faithful to be positively contributing and active members in their local
settings. At the core of its pastoral care is a focus on Christian education at
every level and an active youth ministry. The Coptic Orthodox Church also
serves on a wider level through engaging in a variety of benevolent and
advocacy related work.

The
Coptic Orthodox Church in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland now
has approximately 20,000 faithful across 32 parishes, with the number of these
parishes constantly increasing. These have thus far been served by three
dioceses: the diocese of Birmingham, the Midlands and its affiliated regions, served
by HG Bishop Missael, the Diocese of Scotland, Ireland and North East England,
served by HG Bishop Antony, and the Papal Diocese covering London, the South of
England and South Wales, in which HG Bishop Angaelos has served as His Holiness
the Pope’s delegate since 1999.

His
Holiness Pope Tawadros II and the Holy Synod of the Coptic Orthodox Church have
now decided to establish the Coptic Orthodox Diocese of London.

At annual
Coptic New Year celebration,

HG Bishop Angaelos addresses religious freedom violations
around the world

On 17 October 2017, messages from Her Majesty The Queen, His Royal Highness
The Prince of Wales, the Prime Minister and the Archbishop of Canterbury, were
read at the Coptic New Year (Nayrouz) Service held annually in St Margaret’s
Church, Westminster Abbey.

Addresses were also delivered by Rabbi Jonathan Wittenberg, The
Lord Alton of Liverpool, The Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth, Parliamentary Under
Secretary of State for Communities and Parliamentary Under Secretary of State
for Wales and The Right Honourable Alistair Burt MP, Minister of State for the
Middle East and North Africa at the Foreign & Commonwealth Office, and Minister
of State for International Development.

A welcome was given by The Reverend Canon Jane Sinclair, Canon of
Westminster & Rector of St Margaret’s, and the service was officiated by
His Grace Bishop Angaelos, General Bishop of the Coptic Orthodox Church in the
United Kingdom.

In his sermon, which focused on the
prospect of new beginnings, Bishop Angaelos said:

“As we celebrate the lives of the
faithful, we have a chance to start afresh, and to look at any opportunity for
a new beginning of any sort.

It is important for us to do two things
at this juncture: to look, assess, and repeat the wonderful things that have
been done, and to look at what may have been left undone; things that may have
gone unrealised, unchecked, and unaddressed.”

His Grace went on to say:

“In light of Matthew chapter 9, it is far
too easy to attempt to merely patch over issues when they seem too complex to
address. We must change our approach and address root causes. This applies of
course to us as individuals, as societies, religious institutions, and nations.”

Touching on matters of religious
persecution around the world, His Grace said:

“Over these past months, we have seen so
much in terms of religious persecution, whether it be in relation to the Coptic
Christians in Egypt, Christians in the Middle East, the wider Africa, or around
the world, people suffer daily.

Gatherings like this that we take as a
simple right, are an impossible and unrealised privilege for some in our world
today. So this evening we remember and pray for them, realising that it is
important for us to support those who want to believe, whatever their belief
is!”

Speaking of religious freedom more
generally, he said:

“If God respects humanity enough to
empower us all with a freedom of choice, who are we to decide who has the right
to believe or not believe?

The Christian message has as its ultimate
strength, the ability with which it can consciously and actively love and even
forgive those who not only persecute, but kill us. That is what sets this
apart. It is not because we are better than anyone else but because it is what
we are called to do.”

Highlighting the diverse nature of
British society, he went on to say:

“The gathering in this church this
evening resembles the beautiful mosaic that is British life; from religious
leaders to political leaders, social activists and human rights defenders, to
members of the general public, we all work together. Together we should use
whatever platform or gift we have to further this message.It is a tragedy if we feel there is
nothing we can do, because the reality is that there is never a darkness that
cannot be broken by the slightest light, and there is never a problem that
cannot be addressed even if not fully resolved.”

Closing with a message of hope, from the
book of Isaiah 43:19, he concluded:

“Today we can be confident that God will
always be our Way along even the loneliest of journeys, and He will always be
the spring of life in the most oppressive drought.”

In his address, Lord Bourne spoke of the engagement of the Coptic
Orthodox community in the United Kingdom, highlighting various ministries
including youth work, and homeless ministries.

Rabbi Jonathan Wittenberg, who recently
celebrated the Jewish New Year, said the following in his address:

“I stand here, a Rabbi from the Jewish
community from a fellow faith, in solidarity…

…Therefore in these painful and
frightening times when so many of these relationships are ruptured and require
our urgent and prolonged keen attention we must remember our purpose here on
earth, and together articulate our shared faith, hopes and tasks, not just in
our places of prayer but in the public square and in the media. Together we
must act for the well-being of every individual human for we all carry God’s
sacred spirit and all in a differing, unique and special way.”

The Lord Alton of Liverpool spoke of
religious freedom violations, calling for the same rights for all, saying:

“As Bishop Angaelos reminded us earlier,
[religious freedom] is not just something we demand for the Coptic community
but for all…

…In the Universal Declaration of Human
Rights, in Article 18 it spells out the right of every human being on this planet
to believe, not to believe, or to change their belief. Well it is with this in
mind that we gather here tonight to show our solidarity with an ancient Church,
which plays both an integral part of Egyptian life but also a much loved part
of British life and society.

It is because of the power of the Cross,
not knives and guns and bombs, that we gather here tonight. It is for that
reason, despite tragedy and sadness that we can commemorate and celebrate the
new year and commit ourselves to continue to work for values based on mutual
respect, co-existence and freedom of religion or belief.”

The Right Honourable Alistair Burt MP,
spoke of the beauty and diversity of the Middle East and the people of all
faiths within its region, while also highlighting the struggles faced by many
within it, saying:

“There are many joys in returning to the
role of Minister for the Middle East, to share a bit of time in the region I
have come to love and to value its diversity and culture, the things that are
not often spoken of in the news; to share as a person of faith the opportunity
to listen to the sounds of the Middle East, in mosque, in synagogue and in
church and to recognise that the ear picks up much that is similar between the
sounds of those of those who worship, to recognise a common humanity in its
spirituality searching and reaching out for God.”

Going on to speak about the powerful
impact of forgiveness, and human compassion shared by people of all faiths in
the midst of persecution, he concluded:

“…As we celebrate Naryouz with you, and
we remember the martyrs, we reflect on what you have said for a new opportunity
that we have, let it be a new opportunity not just for the region but for the
world to reflect a bit more, to build dialogue, to end the conflicts between
faiths, so that as we gather year by year we will have less to regret, and
forgive and more to celebrate and be joyful about.”

Joining members of the Coptic community at the service were international
royalty, members of the House of Lords, the Office of the Prime Minister, House
of Commons, the Foreign Commonwealth Office, the Diplomatic Corps, the Home
Office, humanitarian and advocacy organisations, and various ecumenical, and
inter-religious guests.

Statement by His Grace
Bishop Angaelos, General Bishop of the Coptic Orthodox Church in the United
Kingdom

12 October 2017

Another day in
Egypt with another Coptic Christian murdered; this time a priest from Beni
Suef, Upper Egypt, who was in Cairo collecting humanitarian aid for vulnerable members of his parish. Fr Samaan was paying a pastoral visit to a family in Cairo
and returned to the church where he was earlier to collect his mobile phone. On
the way, he was attacked by a knife-wielding assailant who chased him, stabbed
him repeatedly, and then brutally killed him.

This incident makes us once again ask so
many questions. Why should a priest not be able to walk safely down a street,
especially a suburban street in Cairo? Why should he be chased by a man
brandishing a deadly weapon and have no one run to his aid; in actual fact,
everyone was running away. Why, when he lay drenched in his own blood did the
ambulance service not arrive for over an hour, and then not treat him? Why,
when the police finally arrived, and he lay dead, was a crime scene not secured
and forensic evidence not collected to enable a robust and serious
investigation? Why is his assailant immediately deemed mentally incapable
without professional diagnosis, and why, if he is incapable, and a known
violent criminal, is he left in the community with weapons within his reach?

After the initial shock and the immense
sadness, today is a day that brings anger and I am not apologetic for that
anger. I would be just as angry if this was any other person being dealt with
in this way, in any other part of Egypt or indeed any other part of the world.
Yet he is a Christian, a Coptic Christian, and a Coptic priest, which makes it
all the more close and all the more painful.

Just this week I have been with a Coptic
delegation from Cairo seeking grants to serve not only the Coptic community but
the wider Egyptian community. Grants that would cover health, education and
poverty eradication. Where was this wider Egyptian community however when
Father Samaan ran terrified through a street being chased by a violent
criminal, and where was it when he lay dying and alone? Where was it when the
assailant attacked him repeatedly, and where will it be while his family and
congregation grieve the loss of their father, husband, brother, pastor and
friend? These are questions that need to be addressed at every level of
Egyptian community and leadership.

Crime cannot be totally eradicated, but
at least it needs to be properly investigated, prosecuted, and shown to be a
violation against the whole state and not just its immediate victim.

The immense pain of this incident and
all that have preceded it, including: child kidnapping, forced conversion,
individual targetting, bus attacks and church bombings against the Coptic
Orthodox community in Egypt, leads us to hold more strongly onto the words of
our Lord God in Exodus 3:7: “I
have surely seen the oppression of
My people who are in Egypt, and have heard their cry…for I know their sorrows.” Coptic Christians who have endured injustice, persecution, and
loss of life for centuries without retaliation, repeatedly forgiving unconditionally,
deserve to live with respect and dignity in their indigenous homeland.

While recognising that anger may often
open a path to hatred or resentment, there are times at which it is a natural expression
of a human emotion, and reaction to a sense of deep injustice. I am sure that I
am not alone in my anger, but that it is shared by every law-abiding person of
any belief and indeed of none, who has witnessed this vicious and inhumane
attack. In the midst of this anger and this sadness however I continue to pray.
I pray repose for Father Samaan, I pray for his family, I pray for his
community. I pray for the wider Egyptian Christian community that feels more
and more vulnerable and targeted daily against a backdrop of negligence and
injustice. I pray for the wider Egyptian society, that becomes more and more discredited
and compromised as these incidents continue to happen.

This anger is not void of forgiveness,
but cries out for accountability and justice.

*Ends*

For
more information please e-mail the Director of Communications via Media@CopticCentre.com

His Grace Bishop Angaelos, General Bishop of the Coptic Orthodox Church in the United Kingdom, became the new President of Bible Society on 21 September 2017, taking over from Dr Richard Chartres, former Bishop of London, who is retiring after 6 years as our President.

Commenting on his new role, Bishop Angaelos said:

"I consider it an incredible honour to serve as President of the Bible Society, an institution that has historically served to share the message of hope through the word of God. As I embark on this new journey with colleagues from, and supporters of, the Bible Society, I also recognise the immense contribution of my dear brother and friend, His Grace Bishop Richard Chartres.

This is a time in which Britain, and our world, needs the hope that can only come from the inspired message of God in the Scriptures, and it is up to us to be a faithful conduit of this life-giving message. I am sincerely committed to the ecumenical life of the Church because I believe in it, and there is nothing that can unite us more than Scripture as we endeavour to be the Body of Christ, and light in the world."Bible Society’s Chief Executive, Paul Williams, said:

‘We are profoundly grateful to Richard Chartres for his outstanding service over the past six years.'

He said: 'Bishop Angaelos, and the Coptic Orthodox Church which he represents in the UK, models a deep, prayerful spirituality that is characterised by its attentiveness to Scripture. The love for the Bible that is demonstrated day by day, in all of life, and in the midst of considerable hardship and suffering by Coptic Christians, is a challenge and inspiration for us all.

'With his passion for the work of the church here, particularly amongst young people and the marginalised, and his connection with an ancient Christian community that has suffered throughout its history for its loyalty to Jesus Christ, Bishop Angaelos is perfectly placed to share and promote the vision of Bible Society as it moves into the new work God has for the organisation both at home and abroad.’

Statement
by His Grace Bishop Angaelos, General Bishop of the Coptic Orthodox Church in
the United Kingdom

8 September
2017
Chilling reports are emerging of the murder, rape and massacre of the Rohingya
Muslim community in Myanmar, and these are a cause for great alarm and concern.

According to those
reports, well over 250,000 women, men and children within the
Rohingya community have fled to neighbouring Bangladesh in the past two
weeks as a result of violence and conflict. Sources state that Rohingya Muslims are denied
citizenship in their country, and the persecution they face is not new,
but has been occurring for years.

This disturbing news falls on the all too familiar backdrop of the
ongoing refugee crisis which continues to plague millions of people fleeing
religious persecution, violence and turmoil in the Middle East, as well as
the countless people in places such as Nigeria, Sudan, North Korea and
others, who face religious persecution on a daily basis as part of their daily
existence.

As an international community, we must never remain silent in the face of the
suffering of those whose basic God-given rights and freedoms are denied, even
if those people are thousands of miles away. What is unfortunate, is that
these issues often remain in our minds only as long as they frequent our news
feeds, and yet the suffering continues whether we acknowledge it or not. In the
case of the Rohingya Muslims and the Kachin Christians in Burma, it seems that
this situation is ongoing, and by no means recent, but has only
made international headlines due to the heightened level of violence
and suffering.

All human suffering
is worthy of our attention, and should not be ignored until it is unbearable or
seemingly intolerable. In Scripture, Christians are instructed to “Defend the
poor and fatherless; Do justice to the afflicted and needy” (Psalm 82:3), a
task that is ever more needed not just oversees, but often in our immediate
families and communities.

We pray for
the safety of all who flee conflict in our world today, for the Rohingya
Muslim community as they flee their home country, and for those who seek
to find ways to accommodate them and others seeking refuge from
persecution around the world. We also pray for governments and all in authority
to adhere to and safeguard the basic principles of human rights and freedoms
that God has bestowed upon us and entrusted us with, and that our humanity has prided itself on for generations.